Hollywood & Levine

Hollywood & Levine looks at the world of entertainment, pop culture, screenwriting, and life, and takes none of it seriously. The point is to make you laugh, although useful information might accidentally slip through. Hosted by Emmy-winning writer/baseball announcer/talk show host, Ken Levine, Hollywood & Levine will feature commentary, war stories on Ken’s career (MASH, Cheers, Frasier, Simpsons), interviews, writing advice, movie reviews, snarky award show recaps, tall tales from his baseball and radio career, segments from old broadcasts, improv sketches, answering listener questions, and more. It’s a fun, fast-paced hour of humor, nonsense, and God knows what.

Ken goes stream-of-consciousness this week, riffing on the end of the year, the industry, parades, bowl games, Disneyland, prime rib, Oscar season, and one of the great Elizabeth Montgomery stories EVER. Start or end your year off right with this episode.

On this week's Hollywood & Levine podcast, Ken Levine provides us with a commentary track for an episode of the popular hit TV show Cheers that he co-wrote.“Truce or Consequences,” Season 1, EP8. This look behind the scenes explains tons of great inside information that you won't have heard anywhere else. A must listen for any Cheers fans. To increase your viewing pleasure, you can watch the episode of Cheers online on Netflix along with Ken, or simply listen to the Podcast as usual.

Ken grills entertainment reporter Arlen Peter who has interviewed hundreds of major Hollywood stars. In Part 1 they discuss Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand, Lucy, John Belushi, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Kelly and more. Lots of craziness behind-the-scenes and many stories I promise you’ve never heard. If you like gossip and dish this one’s for you. And we’re just getting started.

Ken gets you into the holiday spirit with tales of Thanksgiving – how to survive the travel, the hell that is writing Thanksgiving episodes, the Macy’s Parade, an even tackier one, and what Ken is thankful for. Hint: You’re included.

Ken talks to writer Avin Das about the Charlize Theron sex tape that he wrote and co-starred in for Funny Or Die. He also reveals what it’s really like to be a production assistant on a hit situation comedy. Plus, Ken shares some of his more wacky insane dreams.

Ken tells crazy stories that touch on aspects of his career. Getting bad script notes, being shunned at a radio convention, a Hollywood ending to be cherished, and classic baseball bloopers. Lots of fun, embarrassment, and pain.

Ken talks with the President of the WGA West, David Goodman about the state of the industry – strikes and near strikes, issues the Guild hopes to address, diversity, opportunities, the health plan, and navigating this new world of entertainment options.

Ken talks to the new WGA President, David Goodman who was also the showrunner of FAMILY GUY. David shares the process of making that show along with touching on his other credits which includes STAR TREK ENTERPRISE, FUTURAMA, THE ORVILLE, and GOLDEN GIRLS. Part 1 of a 2 part interview.

Ken reviews the 2017 Emmy Awards ceremony in his delightfully unique snarky (but accurate) way. Written and posted only hours after the annual self-love fest, Ken weighs in with his humorous take. Totally objective even though he’s bitter he didn’t win an Emmy this year. Also, the announcement of the Cheers script contest winner!

Ken and his partner wrote a pilot for HBO that they loved but the studio hated so much they tried to fire them. It’s another crazy Hollywood story but with an ending that is sweet revenge. Also, Ken’s spoof on angry radio talk-show hosts, and more info on the big contest!

Ken is unleashed. Instead of one or two topics, he has twenty. From TV, movies, sports, Broadway, hurricanes, Emmys, theme songs, songwriters, Hollywood myopia, his dad, a review, listening habits, and details on how you can win a signed CHEERS script (maybe the greatest contest prize EVER), Ken shares his take on it all.

Two former child stars who made it to adult stardom. Ken discusses the life and mysterious death of Natalie Wood and then interviews his childhood friend Ann Jillian who went on to star on sitcoms, Broadway, movies, and Bob Hope USO tours. Her life is so fascinating they even made a movie-of-the-week about it. THE ANN JILLIAN STORY was the top rated MOW of 1988, and coincidentally, she starred in it. Ann has hilarious and courageous stories.

Ken shares the saga of a pilot he and his partner once did for NBC where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Spectacularly. If comedy is “tragedy plus time” I think even Levine & Isaacs can now laugh at this folly. You will too.

Ken and David Isaacs discuss their longtime partnership, how it formed, their process and how it’s evolved over the years, hard lessons they had to learn, disagreements, triumphs, and many great writing tips. Ken & David wrote for some of the most iconic sitcoms of the last forty years. Relive their journey.

As we approach the Emmys, Ken salutes the iconic DICK VAN DYKE SHOW and how it inspired him to become a writer. Hint: Being in puberty at the time helped. You’ll get the inside story on the making of the show (and learn things you didn’t know), Ken’s personal recollections, how he wrote an episode and turned it in 50 years too late, interviews, and Laura Petrie herself discusses her sex life with Rob.

Ken touches on many aspects of his career – radio, writing, and baseball. You’ll learn how he met Prince Charles and almost caused an international incident, the secrets of the CHEERS “Bar Wars” episodes, useless skills, and you’ll meet the “real” Brockmire. Plus, another aircheck of Beaver Cleaver on TenQ. Come for the stories, stay for the laughs.

Listen to a failed TV pilot that Ken Levine & David Isaacs wrote and produced for Fox in 2003. Now with a new (and better) cast, you’ll hear a reading of the pilot produced exclusively for this podcast. Hear how the authors envisioned it and why they still think this is a damn funny show that would do well on TV today.

Ken throws caution to the wind and does his very first stand-up routine at an open mic night. You’ll hear the whole set. How did he do? You decide. He’ll also take you behind-the-scenes, before and after. It’s an exercise in either courage or stupidity depending upon how you look at it.

WICKED is the most successful musical in the last fifteen years. It’s had thousands of productions worldwide and is still playing on Broadway. But the road to success was a long and arduous one. This week Ken interviews Winnie Holzman who wrote the libretto for WICKED. You’ll learn the inspiration, process, problems, solutions, and thinking behind this smash hit musical.